I have purchased a laptop recently through sonystyle.ca, which is an official online shopping website for SONY products.
It was a form of a direct distribution from the manufacturer.
I came to the realization when I got my tracking number. I tracked the package and it was shipped from Yantai, China. Where I assume their production plant is located.
Sony providing a direct distribution allows for easy product customization(I actually customized my laptop a lot), allowing more choices consumers have to make.
I felt great about being able to customize my laptop to honest. I could not find the right computer I wanted at retail locations. I was also very pleased with what they had to offer in terms of color variations. (I got a green laptop!)
As a consumer, I felt more safe to buy my laptop direct from the manufacturer than from a retail store.
Just something I got puzzled over fedex’s transportation was that I do not think my shipment had to be carried all the way to Tennessee when it was coming from China to Vancouver. 
